Niwot’s Challenge is a very difficult, grass-roots, ultramarathon in Colorado’s Front Range. It is modeled after the arduous Barkley Marathons in Tennessee and the historic More and More Difficult 50K in New Hampshire. Much of the information for this event is kept secret until event week. This is done for a variety of reasons pertaining to the safety of the events participants and for the preservation of the event. If you want to know more.. you’ll just have to sign up.
Where?
Can’t tell ya.. unless you sign up.
We’ll just tell ya it’ll be unforgiving terrain in the Front Range West of Denver.
Runners will travel on dirt roads, trails, and via bushwhack/off-trail. Successful completion of the course will be achieved when a runner has travelled the course, identically to how it’s been laid out, and retrieves a page from each of the books hidden on the course.
THIS IS GRADUATE LEVEL, think doctoral dissertation, and participants are expected to have considerable ultra or adventure racing experience that proves their ability to take on this challenge safely. This is not an event where one runs. This is an event where one slowly suffers until they either finish, or find their way back to the CP.
No more than 35 runners will be selected to run in this event (Strict)
Entry Fee: Donation Based – Not Required
If you would like to run in Niwot’s Challenge, follow these directions carefully…
Applications will be accepted starting at Midnight on Monday, January 17th thru Noon on Wednesday, January 19th. Only those who apply during this period are given preference of potential acceptance. Applying does not guarantee acceptance into the event. HPRS staff reserves the right to accept, or deny, applicants at will. No explanation will be given for denied entries, an acceptance email will be sent to those who are selected.
Applicant’s must send an e-mail to [email protected] with the following information:
• Your Name
• Your Age
• Town/State you presently reside
• Best and Worst 50 Mile Time
• If no previous 50 Miler Completed, you must submit a short essay stating why you should be admitted to run based on consideration of your other outdoor experiences.
• The total number of ultras you’ve completed
• Your Spirit Animal/Totem Animal
The field will be selected on Thursday, January 20th and notified ASAP.
HOW ARE APPLICANTS DIVIDED/SELECTED:
• We will accept the first 5 Chiefs who apply
• We will accept up to 15 returning Nitwits, with no finishes, from previous years
• We will then accept 10 virgin applicants
Should we not have 30 total applicants…
• We will fill the field using the equation above
• We will then accept all remaining Chief applicants
• We will then alternate, 1 and 1, between returning Nitwits and Virgin Applicants until full
• We will accept applicants, first come first served, until full
• Applying does not guarantee entry.. this is a graduate level run. We vet participants for safety and preservation of the evet.
Should we have more than 30 applicants, or once we reach 30 participants…
• The event will be filled as first listed above (top section), then the second section listed above
• A wait list will be implemented by order of application received
We reserve the right to refuse entry of ANY applicant without providing an explanation for doing so. This is a graduate level event and participants are expected to have considerable ultra or adventure racing experience that proves their ability to take on this challenge safely. Do NOT apply if you do not know how to read a map (paper map.. non-electronic), or if you have no intention on learning between your application and race day.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
All runners will be known on race weekend by their Spirit/Totem Animal. Only those who finish the Niwot’s Challenge will be given a suitable Chief name differentiating them from all other comers. Those who complete the Niwot’s Double will reach Deity level.
Information pertaining to the challenge will be issued, electronically, to runners during the week leading up to the event. This information includes a course map, aid station location, aid and crew access point(s), additional rules, and start time of the event. This will provide runners with ample time to assemble their course maps and other needs for the event.
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